destructive
adjective
de·struc·tive
di-ˈstrək-tiv 
1
: causing destruction : ruinous
destructive storm
2
: designed or tending to hurt or destroy
destructive criticism
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
Examples of destructive in a Sentence
It was one of the most destructive storms in recent memory.
She argued that the law was destructive of personal liberties.
The school is concerned about the destructive behavior of a few students.
Recent Examples on the Web
Evacuations are in place for the fire, which state and local officials believe is likely Utah’s most destructive and costly wildfire on record.
—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
And the wildfires that do start are getting bigger and more destructive as a result of human activities that are warming the global climate.
—
Nathan Rott,
NPR,
27 June 2026
The release of the new batch of episodes almost perfectly coincides with an exceptionally rainy, stormy and destructive year for Chicago and Illinois as a whole.
—
Hannah Hudnall,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The ones that propagate fastest arrive first, and they can be detected, allowing scientists to predict the second and third waves, which are slower and generally more destructive.
—
Sylvain Barbot,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
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Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 June 2026
And the wildfires that do start are getting bigger and more destructive as a result of human activities that are warming the global climate.
—
Nathan Rott,
NPR,
27 June 2026
The release of the new batch of episodes almost perfectly coincides with an exceptionally rainy, stormy and destructive year for Chicago and Illinois as a whole.
—
Hannah Hudnall,
USA Today,
26 June 2026
The ones that propagate fastest arrive first, and they can be detected, allowing scientists to predict the second and third waves, which are slower and generally more destructive.
—
Sylvain Barbot,
The Conversation,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destructive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
destructive
adjective
de·struc·tive
di-ˈstrək-tiv
1
: causing destruction : ruinous
a destructive storm
2
: designed or tending to hurt or destroy
destructive criticism
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
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